Merrimack Valley News

In advance of Lowell's Juneteenth celebrations, eleven new permanent Black history markers were installed throughout downtown Lowell in recognition of various sites and individuals important to the city's Black heritage. Developed and funded as part of the Lowell Historic Board's community engagement and outreach programming, the markers were inspired by DIY Lowell's temporary Pop-Up Black History Trail in 2021.

Based upon groundbreaking research into Lowell's Black history at UMass Lowell's Center for Lowell History, the markers include material related to abolitionists, the Underground Railroad, the new Black Joy public art piece, and even the first and oldest desegregated public high school in the nation, Lowell High School in 1843. 

Local architect Anthony Nganga, also a Free Soil Arts Collective board member and a project partner, noted, "These new markers are a fantastic resource that will help educate the public and bring to light the often unknown and hidden stories of Lowell's historic Black community."

"These new Black history markers complement other initiatives that provide historic interpretive opportunities for the public including the Lowell National Historical Park's wayside exhibit panels and the Historic Board's Downtown Lowell Historic District building markers," said Stephen Stowell, Lowell Historic Board Administrator. "It was an important and exciting project to work on."

A brochure developed in partnership with Mosaic Lowell provides background on each of the eleven marker locations and includes a map of the entire trail. The brochure is available at City Hall and various locations throughout downtown Lowell. The trail markers' locations are also noted on Mosaic Lowell's online interactive map.

Lowell's Black history markers is a collaborative undertaking by the City of Lowell, Lowell Historic Board, DIY Lowell, and the Free Soil Arts Collaborative. Other partners included the UMass Lowell Center for Lowell History, which was named an official Underground Railroad Research Facility in 2020 by the National Park Service, Network to Freedom and the Lowell National Historical Park, Pollard Memorial Library, City of Lowell Sign Shop, Mosaic Lowell, and the Lowell Heritage Partnership. The markers were designed by Valerie Cook from Effie Noren Graphics and fabricated by Owl Stamp Visual Solutions. 

Original source can be found here.